A Hezbollah-run news<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-chief-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-may-have-been-killed-by-russian-army-16897"> outlet said today that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi</a> was reportedly spotted in Syrian town of Albu Kamal.

The news outlet said the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-chief-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-alive-us-defence-secretary-18175">IS leader was spotted during Syrian army operation </a>to clear the city.

Syrian army including the coalition forces in Iraq have been on the lookout for Baghdadi ever since they started the assault on IS forces early this year.

In fact, in June the Russian foreign ministry had said that there was a &quot;high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead&quot;.

Viktor Ozerov, the head of defence committee had said the news of Baghdadi&#39;s death was &quot;close to 100 per cent.&quot;&nbsp;

US forces, however, had a different take on the fate of the IS leader. Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, commander of the counter-IS coalition in Iraq and Syria had said two months ago that, &quot;We&#39;re looking for him every day. I don&#39;t think he&#39;s dead.&quot;

In July, the US defence secretary Jim Mattis had also said that he believes Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive.

Several other reports since then have suggested the IS chief was killed either in Iraq or Syria.&nbsp;

The news outlet said the IS leader was spotted during Syrian army operation to clear the city.

A Hezbollah-run news outlet said today that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was reportedly spotted in Syrian town of Albu Kamal. The news outlet said the IS leader was spotted during Syrian army operation to clear the city. Syrian army including the coalition forces in Iraq have been on the lookout for Baghdadi ever since they started the assault on IS forces early this year. In fact, in June the Russian foreign ministry had said that there was a "high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead". Viktor Ozerov, the head of defence committee had said the news of Baghdadi's death was "close to 100 per cent." US forces, however, had a different take on the fate of the IS leader. Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, commander of the counter-IS coalition in Iraq and Syria had said two months ago that, "We're looking for him every day. I don't think he's dead." In July, the US defence secretary Jim Mattis had also said that he believes Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive. Several other reports since then have suggested the IS chief was killed either in Iraq or Syria.

IS leader  Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi spotted in Syrian town: Report

The fate of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/report-on-is-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-admitting-defeat-in-iraq-may-not-be-true-12955">IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is still unknown</a> even as &nbsp;Iraqi military spokesman said on Thursday the city of Tal Afar has been fully liberated.

&quot;We&#39;re looking for him every day. I don&#39;t think he&#39;s dead,&quot; Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend said.

&quot;The last stand of ISIS will be in the Middle Euphrates River Valley,&quot; Townsend said.

Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend who is the commander of the counter-IS coalition in Iraq and Syria declared: &quot;When we find him, I think we&#39;ll just try to kill him first. It&#39;s probably not worth all the trouble to try and capture him.&quot;

The American assessment of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/information-about-abu-bakr-al-baghdadis-death-close-to-100-per-cent-correct-russian-defence-committee-17192">Baghdadi is far removed from the Russian foreign ministry&#39;s statement </a>in June which said that there was a &quot;high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead&quot;.

In fact,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/high-degree-of-certainty-is-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-is-dead-russian-foreign-ministry-17161"> Viktor Ozerov, the head of </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/high-degree-of-certainty-is-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-is-dead-russian-foreign-ministry-17161">defence</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/high-degree-of-certainty-is-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-is-dead-russian-foreign-ministry-17161"> committee had told Interfax</a>: &quot;I think this information is close to 100 per cent.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;The fact that Islamic State has still not shown him anywhere also adds to our confidence that al-Baghdadi has been killed,&quot; he had added with some conviction.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;an Iraqi military spokesman declared on Thursday that the city of Tal Afar was fully liberated after a battle which lasted for eleven days.

Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, a spokesman for the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said that government forces have also retaken control of the al-Ayadia district, northwest of Tal Afar, which meant that the whole of Nineveh Governorate is now free of IS militants.

&quot;We had planned to open multiple fronts in the offensive and advance on multiple axes against IS. We arrived in the city center within just two days and liberated the urban area within eight days. This offensive was different from the Mosul offensive, which was more of a larger scale,&quot; Rasool said.

&quot;We have had a lot of experience in combat. This time, we surrounded Tal Afar and launched airstrikes against IS and managed to reduce the extremists&#39; fighting capability by more than 90 percent,&quot; Brigadier General Yahya Rasool added.

The victory in Tal Afar comes after Iraqi forces successfully liberated Mosul last month.

The New York Daily News quoted Army Lt General Stephen Townsend on Baghdadi, saying: "Do I believe he's alive? Yes."

The fate of IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is still unknown even as Iraqi military spokesman said on Thursday the city of Tal Afar has been fully liberated. "We're looking for him every day. I don't think he's dead," Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend said. "The last stand of ISIS will be in the Middle Euphrates River Valley," Townsend said. Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend who is the commander of the counter-IS coalition in Iraq and Syria declared: "When we find him, I think we'll just try to kill him first. It's probably not worth all the trouble to try and capture him." The American assessment of Baghdadi is far removed from the Russian foreign ministry's statement in June which said that there was a "high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead". In fact, Viktor Ozerov, the head of defence committee had told Interfax: "I think this information is close to 100 per cent." "The fact that Islamic State has still not shown him anywhere also adds to our confidence that al-Baghdadi has been killed," he had added with some conviction. Meanwhile, an Iraqi military spokesman declared on Thursday that the city of Tal Afar was fully liberated after a battle which lasted for eleven days. Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, a spokesman for the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said that government forces have also retaken control of the al-Ayadia district, northwest of Tal Afar, which meant that the whole of Nineveh Governorate is now free of IS militants. "We had planned to open multiple fronts in the offensive and advance on multiple axes against IS. We arrived in the city center within just two days and liberated the urban area within eight days. This offensive was different from the Mosul offensive, which was more of a larger scale," Rasool said. "We have had a lot of experience in combat. This time, we surrounded Tal Afar and launched airstrikes against IS and managed to reduce the extremists' fighting capability by more than 90 percent," Brigadier General Yahya Rasool added. The victory in Tal Afar comes after Iraqi forces successfully liberated Mosul last month.

Iraq's Tal Afar liberated, IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's fate still unknown

The Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters.

&quot;(We have) confirmed information from leaders, including one of the first rank, in the Islamic State in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zor,&quot; the director of the British-based war monitoring group Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters. 
&nbsp; 
The news of Baghdadi&#39;s death has been floating for quite some time. In June, the Russian defence ministry had said that the Islamic State leader was killed in one of its air strikes.

The Syrian Observatory, which keeps a track of the ongoing war in Syria, said that Islamic State sources in the Syrian town of Deir al-Zor confirmed that Baghdadi has been killed.

The news of his death has not been verified by Islamic State&#39;s official news agency Amaq. &nbsp;&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

In June, the Russian defence ministry had said that the Islamic State leader was killed in one of its air strikes

The Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters. "(We have) confirmed information from leaders, including one of the first rank, in the Islamic State in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zor," the director of the British-based war monitoring group Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters. The news of Baghdadi's death has been floating for quite some time. In June, the Russian defence ministry had said that the Islamic State leader was killed in one of its air strikes. The Syrian Observatory, which keeps a track of the ongoing war in Syria, said that Islamic State sources in the Syrian town of Deir al-Zor confirmed that Baghdadi has been killed. The news of his death has not been verified by Islamic State's official news agency Amaq.

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dead: Syrian Observatory

After Russia&#39;s foreign ministry said yesterday there was a <a href="http://High degree of certainty IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead: Russian foreign ministry">&quot;high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead&quot;,</a> Russia&#39;s Interfax news agency quoted the head of defence committee declaring that the IS leader is &quot;close to 100 per cent&quot; been killed, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Viktor Ozerov, the head of&nbsp;defence committee told Reuters the defence ministry would not have released information about Baghdadi&#39;s death if it believed it could be later proved incorrect.

&quot;I think this information is close to 100 per cent,&quot; Ozerov told Interfax.&nbsp;

&quot;The fact that Islamic State has still not shown him anywhere also adds to our confidence that al-Baghdadi has been killed,&quot; he added with some conviction.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-blows-up-landmark-great-mosque-of-al-nuri-and-famous-leaning-minaret-in-mosul-17125">Also Read: Watch: Iraq says IS has blown up 800-yr-old Mosul mosque from where it declared &#39;caliphate&#39;</a>

However, the US hasn&#39;t corroborated his death and the IS has not released any statement on Baghdadi.

Last Friday, the Russian Army had said the Islamic State leader was killed in an airstrike in Syria last month, however, it was still seeking to clarify his death. In a statement, the army had said Sukhoi warplanes carried out a 10-minute night-time strike on May 28 at a location near Raqa, where IS leaders had gathered to plan a pullout by militants from the group&#39;s stronghold.

The Iraq-born world&#39;s most-wanted man has been rumoured wounded or killed a number of times in the past. &nbsp;

Viktor Ozerov, the head of?defence committee said the defence ministry would not have released information about Baghdadi's death if it believed it could be later proved incorrect

After Russia's foreign ministry said yesterday there was a "high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead", Russia's Interfax news agency quoted the head of defence committee declaring that the IS leader is "close to 100 per cent" been killed, Reuters reported. Viktor Ozerov, the head of defence committee told Reuters the defence ministry would not have released information about Baghdadi's death if it believed it could be later proved incorrect. "I think this information is close to 100 per cent," Ozerov told Interfax. "The fact that Islamic State has still not shown him anywhere also adds to our confidence that al-Baghdadi has been killed," he added with some conviction. Also Read: Watch: Iraq says IS has blown up 800-yr-old Mosul mosque from where it declared 'caliphate' However, the US hasn't corroborated his death and the IS has not released any statement on Baghdadi. Last Friday, the Russian Army had said the Islamic State leader was killed in an airstrike in Syria last month, however, it was still seeking to clarify his death. In a statement, the army had said Sukhoi warplanes carried out a 10-minute night-time strike on May 28 at a location near Raqa, where IS leaders had gathered to plan a pullout by militants from the group's stronghold. The Iraq-born world's most-wanted man has been rumoured wounded or killed a number of times in the past.

Information about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death close to 100% correct: Russian defence committee

Russia&#39;s foreign ministry said there was a high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead, Russia&#39;s news agency RIA has reported.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-blows-up-landmark-great-mosque-of-al-nuri-and-famous-leaning-minaret-in-mosul-17125">Watch: Iraq says IS has blown up 800-yr-old Mosul mosque from where it declared &#39;caliphate&#39;</a>

The Russian army had said last Friday it had hit Islamic State leaders in an airstrike in Syria last month and was seeking to verify whether IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed.

In a statement, the army had said Sukhoi warplanes carried out a 10-minute night-time strike on May 28 at a location near Raqa, where IS leaders had gathered to plan a pullout by militants from the group&#39;s stronghold. 
&nbsp; 
The Iraqi-born world&#39;s most-wanted man has been rumoured wounded or killed a number of times in the past.

The Russian army had said last Friday it had hit Islamic State leaders in an airstrike in Syria last month

Russia's foreign ministry said there was a high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead, Russia's news agency RIA has reported. Watch: Iraq says IS has blown up 800-yr-old Mosul mosque from where it declared 'caliphate' The Russian army had said last Friday it had hit Islamic State leaders in an airstrike in Syria last month and was seeking to verify whether IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed. In a statement, the army had said Sukhoi warplanes carried out a 10-minute night-time strike on May 28 at a location near Raqa, where IS leaders had gathered to plan a pullout by militants from the group's stronghold. The Iraqi-born world's most-wanted man has been rumoured wounded or killed a number of times in the past.

High degree of certainty IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead: Russian foreign ministry

Ayad al-Jumaili, believed to be a deputy of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in an air strike on Friday, an Iraqi intelligence spokesman said on Saturday.

The US-led anti-Islamic State coalition said it was unable at the moment to confirm the information that was reported earlier in the day by Iraqi state-run TV.

Jumaili was killed with other Islamic State commanders in a strike carried out by the Iraqi air force in the region of al-Qaim, near the border with Syria, a military intelligence spokesman told Reuters.&nbsp;

&quot;The air force&#39;s planes executed with accuracy a strike on the headquarters of Daesh in al-Qaim .. resulting in the killing of Daesh&#39;s second-in-command...Ayad al-Jumaili, alias Abu Yahya, the war minister,&quot; state TV said earlier, citing a statement from the directorate of military intelligence.

Iraqi forces, backed by a US-led coalition, have been battling since October to retake the city of Mosul, Islamic State&#39;s last major stronghold in Iraq and the city where Baghdadi declared a caliphate nearly three years ago.

Nearly 290,000 people have fled the city to escape the fighting, according to the United Nations.&nbsp;

Former Saddam official&nbsp;

US &nbsp;and Iraqi officials believe Baghdadi has left operational commanders with diehard followers to fight the battle of Mosul, and is now hiding out in the desert with senior commanders.

A separate battle is in preparation in Syria to drive Islamic State from its stronghold there, the city of Raqqa.

The Iraqi state TV report is the first by an official media to announce the death of Jumaili, who was an intelligence officer under Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president toppled in the 2003 US-led invasion.&nbsp;

Jumaili led Islamic State&#39;s top security agency in Iraq and Syria, known as Amniya, answering directly to Baghdadi, according to experts.

Although the loss of Mosul would effectively end Islamic State&#39;s territorial rule in Iraq, US and Iraqi officials are preparing for the group to go underground and fight an insurgency like the one that followed the US-led invasion.

The last official report about Baghdadi was from the Iraqi military on Feb. 13. Iraqi F-16s carried out a strike on a house where he was thought to be meeting other commanders, in western Iraq, near the Syrian border, they said in a statement.

More than 40 leading members of the group have been killed in coalition air strikes, according to experts. Baghdadi has not officially appointed a successor.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The US-led anti-Islamic State coalition said it was unable at the moment to confirm the information

Ayad al-Jumaili, believed to be a deputy of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in an air strike on Friday, an Iraqi intelligence spokesman said on Saturday. The US-led anti-Islamic State coalition said it was unable at the moment to confirm the information that was reported earlier in the day by Iraqi state-run TV. Jumaili was killed with other Islamic State commanders in a strike carried out by the Iraqi air force in the region of al-Qaim, near the border with Syria, a military intelligence spokesman told Reuters. "The air force's planes executed with accuracy a strike on the headquarters of Daesh in al-Qaim .. resulting in the killing of Daesh's second-in-command...Ayad al-Jumaili, alias Abu Yahya, the war minister," state TV said earlier, citing a statement from the directorate of military intelligence. Iraqi forces, backed by a US-led coalition, have been battling since October to retake the city of Mosul, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq and the city where Baghdadi declared a caliphate nearly three years ago. Nearly 290,000 people have fled the city to escape the fighting, according to the United Nations. Former Saddam official US and Iraqi officials believe Baghdadi has left operational commanders with diehard followers to fight the battle of Mosul, and is now hiding out in the desert with senior commanders. A separate battle is in preparation in Syria to drive Islamic State from its stronghold there, the city of Raqqa. The Iraqi state TV report is the first by an official media to announce the death of Jumaili, who was an intelligence officer under Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president toppled in the 2003 US-led invasion. Jumaili led Islamic State's top security agency in Iraq and Syria, known as Amniya, answering directly to Baghdadi, according to experts. Although the loss of Mosul would effectively end Islamic State's territorial rule in Iraq, US and Iraqi officials are preparing for the group to go underground and fight an insurgency like the one that followed the US-led invasion. The last official report about Baghdadi was from the Iraqi military on Feb. 13. Iraqi F-16s carried out a strike on a house where he was thought to be meeting other commanders, in western Iraq, near the Syrian border, they said in a statement. More than 40 leading members of the group have been killed in coalition air strikes, according to experts. Baghdadi has not officially appointed a successor. (Reuters)

IS second-in-command killed in airstrike: Iraqi intelligence

US and Iraqi officials believe the leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has left operational commanders behind with diehard followers to fight the battle of Mosul, and is now hiding out in the desert, focusing mainly on his own survival.

It is impossible to confirm the whereabouts of the Islamic State &quot;caliph&quot;, who declared himself the ruler of all Muslims from Mosul&#39;s Great Mosque after his forces swept through northern Iraq in 2014.

READ:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/report-on-is-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-admitting-defeat-in-iraq-may-not-be-true-12955">Report on IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi admitting defeat in Iraq may not be true</a>

But US&nbsp;and Iraqi intelligence sources say an absence of official communication from the group&#39;s leadership and the loss of territory in Mosul suggest he has abandoned the city, by far the largest population centre his group has ever held.

&nbsp;

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WION brings you footage from Iraqi forces battling IS in Mosul (Reuters)
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He has proved to be an elusive target, rarely using communication that can be monitored, and moving constantly, often multiple times in one 24-hour cycle, the sources say.

From their efforts to track him, they believe he hides mostly among sympathetic civilians in familiar desert villages, rather than with fighters in their barracks in urban areas where combat has been under way, the sources say.

At the height of its power two years ago, Islamic State ruled over millions of people in territory running from northern Syria through towns and villages along the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys to the outskirts of Baghdad in Iraq.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-removed-from-travel-ban-partly-for-fight-against-islamic-state-us-13175">US-backed Iraqi forces began an operation five months ago to recapture Mosul</a>, a city at least four times the size of any other the group has held. The biggest battle in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003, it has been slow going, in part because hundreds of thousands of civilians remain in harm&#39;s way.

The 100,000-strong Iraqi forcefully captured the eastern half of Mosul in January, and commanders began an operation to cross the Tigris and take the western half last month. Progress has since been steady and the coalition says its victory is now inevitable, which would dismantle the caliphate in Iraq.

The intelligence sources point to a sharp drop in Islamic State postings on social media as evidence that Baghdadi and his circle have become increasingly isolated.

Baghdadi himself has not released a recorded speech since early November, two weeks after the start of the Mosul battle, when he called on his followers to fight the &quot;unbelievers&quot; and &quot;make their blood flow as rivers.&quot;

Since then, sporadic Islamic State statements mention attacks carried out by suicide bombers at various locations in Iraq and Syria, but place no particular emphasis on Mosul, despite the city being the main centre of fighting.

Neither Baghdadi nor any of his close aides released any comment on the fall of the eastern part of the city in January.

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A sniper aims his weapon towards Islamic State fighters in west Mosul as Iraqi forces continue to push ahead in the city. (AFP)
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The group&#39;s presence on Telegram, a social media network that had become its main platform for announcements and speeches, has tapered off. The coalition estimates that Islamic State activity on Twitter has fallen by 45 percent since 2014, with 360,000 of the group&#39;s Twitter accounts suspended so far and new ones usually shut down within two days.

In what is likely to be a major symbolic victory for the US-backed Iraqi forces, they are now closing in on the area around Mosul&#39;s Great Mosque on the western bank of the Tigris, where Baghdadi proclaimed his caliphate.

More than half of the 6,000 jihadists left to defend the city have been killed, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, the author of the book &quot;World of Daesh&quot;, who also advises the Iraqi government. Daesh is an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

US&nbsp;commanders sound upbeat and say the battle for the city is now in a late stage.

&quot;The game is up,&quot; US&nbsp;Air Force Brigadier General Matthew Isler told Reuters at the Qayyara West Airfield south of Mosul, adding that some of Islamic State&#39;s foreign fighters are trying to leave the city.

Those left behind to fight, mostly Iraqis, are putting up a &quot;very hard fight&quot; on the tactical level but they are no longer an integrated force, as coalition air strikes took out command and control centres, car bombs and weapon caches, he said.

&quot;They have lost this fight and what you&#39;re seeing is a delaying action,&quot; he said.

Although the loss of Mosul would effectively end Islamic State&#39;s territorial rule in Iraq, US&nbsp;and Iraqi officials are preparing for the group to go underground and fight an insurgency like the one that followed the US-led invasion.

The &quot;caliphate&quot; as a state structure would end with the capture of Raqqa, its de facto capital in Syria, possibly later this year.

Raqqa is far smaller than Mosul, but mounting operations against Islamic State in Syria has been trickier than in Iraq, because the group&#39;s many Syrian enemies have mostly been pre-occupied fighting among themselves in a civil war since 2011.

Nevertheless, Islamic State has faced setbacks in Syria over the past year against three main foes: US-backed Kurdish and Arab militias, the Russian-backed Syrian army, and mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebels backed by Turkey.

&quot;The inevitability of their destruction just becomes really a matter of time,&quot; said Major General Rupert Jones, deputy commander for the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition, adding that the group&#39;s leadership was now focused on little more than survival.

The last official report about Baghdadi was from the Iraqi military on February&nbsp;13&nbsp;Iraqi F-16s carried out a strike on a house where he was thought to be meeting other commanders, in western Iraq, near the Syrian border, it said.

Baghdadi, an Iraqi whose real name is Ibrahim al-Samarrai, is moving in a remote, mostly-desert stretch populated exclusively by Sunni Arab tribes north of the Euphrates river, according to Hashimi.

The area stretches from the town of Baaj, in northwestern Iraq, to the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal on the Euphrates.

&quot;It&#39;s their historic region, they know the people there and the terrain; food, water and gasoline are easy to get, spies are easier to spot&quot; than in crowded areas, he said.

The US&nbsp;government has had a joint task force to track down Baghdadi which includes special operations forces, the CIA and other US&nbsp;intelligence agencies as well as spy satellites of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

But Baghdadi seems to have learnt the lessons from the 2011 capture and killing of Osama bin Ladin, and relies on multiple couriers and not just one, unlike the al-Qaida founder, say US&nbsp;intelligence sources.&nbsp;He also switches cars during trips, a lesson learnt from the 2011 drone strike that killed Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaida figure in Yemen.

Baghdadi has not publicly appointed a successor, but Iyad al-Obaidi, also known as Fadel Haifa, a security officer under former dictator Saddam Hussein, is known to be the de facto deputy, according to Iraqi intelligence sources.

More than 40 leading members of the group have been killed in coalition air strikes, but the insurgency is likely to continue even if Mosul is captured and Baghdadi and his aides are killed, according to Iraqi security experts.

&quot;There will be other commanders rising because the structure of the organisation remains,&quot; said Fadhil Abu Ragheef, an Iraqi security expert specialized in IS affairs.

(Reuters)

US?and Iraqi intelligence sources say the loss of territory in Mosul suggest the IS chief has abandoned the city

US and Iraqi officials believe the leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has left operational commanders behind with diehard followers to fight the battle of Mosul, and is now hiding out in the desert, focusing mainly on his own survival. It is impossible to confirm the whereabouts of the Islamic State "caliph", who declared himself the ruler of all Muslims from Mosul's Great Mosque after his forces swept through northern Iraq in 2014. READ: Report on IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi admitting defeat in Iraq may not be true But US and Iraqi intelligence sources say an absence of official communication from the group's leadership and the loss of territory in Mosul suggest he has abandoned the city, by far the largest population centre his group has ever held. WION brings you footage from Iraqi forces battling IS in Mosul (Reuters) × He has proved to be an elusive target, rarely using communication that can be monitored, and moving constantly, often multiple times in one 24-hour cycle, the sources say. From their efforts to track him, they believe he hides mostly among sympathetic civilians in familiar desert villages, rather than with fighters in their barracks in urban areas where combat has been under way, the sources say. At the height of its power two years ago, Islamic State ruled over millions of people in territory running from northern Syria through towns and villages along the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys to the outskirts of Baghdad in Iraq. US-backed Iraqi forces began an operation five months ago to recapture Mosul, a city at least four times the size of any other the group has held. The biggest battle in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003, it has been slow going, in part because hundreds of thousands of civilians remain in harm's way. The 100,000-strong Iraqi forcefully captured the eastern half of Mosul in January, and commanders began an operation to cross the Tigris and take the western half last month. Progress has since been steady and the coalition says its victory is now inevitable, which would dismantle the caliphate in Iraq. The intelligence sources point to a sharp drop in Islamic State postings on social media as evidence that Baghdadi and his circle have become increasingly isolated. Baghdadi himself has not released a recorded speech since early November, two weeks after the start of the Mosul battle, when he called on his followers to fight the "unbelievers" and "make their blood flow as rivers." Since then, sporadic Islamic State statements mention attacks carried out by suicide bombers at various locations in Iraq and Syria, but place no particular emphasis on Mosul, despite the city being the main centre of fighting. Neither Baghdadi nor any of his close aides released any comment on the fall of the eastern part of the city in January. A sniper aims his weapon towards Islamic State fighters in west Mosul as Iraqi forces continue to push ahead in the city. (AFP) × The group's presence on Telegram, a social media network that had become its main platform for announcements and speeches, has tapered off. The coalition estimates that Islamic State activity on Twitter has fallen by 45 percent since 2014, with 360,000 of the group's Twitter accounts suspended so far and new ones usually shut down within two days. In what is likely to be a major symbolic victory for the US-backed Iraqi forces, they are now closing in on the area around Mosul's Great Mosque on the western bank of the Tigris, where Baghdadi proclaimed his caliphate. More than half of the 6,000 jihadists left to defend the city have been killed, according to Hisham al-Hashimi, the author of the book "World of Daesh", who also advises the Iraqi government. Daesh is an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. US commanders sound upbeat and say the battle for the city is now in a late stage. "The game is up," US Air Force Brigadier General Matthew Isler told Reuters at the Qayyara West Airfield south of Mosul, adding that some of Islamic State's foreign fighters are trying to leave the city. Those left behind to fight, mostly Iraqis, are putting up a "very hard fight" on the tactical level but they are no longer an integrated force, as coalition air strikes took out command and control centres, car bombs and weapon caches, he said. "They have lost this fight and what you're seeing is a delaying action," he said. Although the loss of Mosul would effectively end Islamic State's territorial rule in Iraq, US and Iraqi officials are preparing for the group to go underground and fight an insurgency like the one that followed the US-led invasion. The "caliphate" as a state structure would end with the capture of Raqqa, its de facto capital in Syria, possibly later this year. Raqqa is far smaller than Mosul, but mounting operations against Islamic State in Syria has been trickier than in Iraq, because the group's many Syrian enemies have mostly been pre-occupied fighting among themselves in a civil war since 2011. Nevertheless, Islamic State has faced setbacks in Syria over the past year against three main foes: US-backed Kurdish and Arab militias, the Russian-backed Syrian army, and mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebels backed by Turkey. "The inevitability of their destruction just becomes really a matter of time," said Major General Rupert Jones, deputy commander for the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition, adding that the group's leadership was now focused on little more than survival. The last official report about Baghdadi was from the Iraqi military on February 13 Iraqi F-16s carried out a strike on a house where he was thought to be meeting other commanders, in western Iraq, near the Syrian border, it said. Baghdadi, an Iraqi whose real name is Ibrahim al-Samarrai, is moving in a remote, mostly-desert stretch populated exclusively by Sunni Arab tribes north of the Euphrates river, according to Hashimi. The area stretches from the town of Baaj, in northwestern Iraq, to the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal on the Euphrates. "It's their historic region, they know the people there and the terrain; food, water and gasoline are easy to get, spies are easier to spot" than in crowded areas, he said. The US government has had a joint task force to track down Baghdadi which includes special operations forces, the CIA and other US intelligence agencies as well as spy satellites of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. But Baghdadi seems to have learnt the lessons from the 2011 capture and killing of Osama bin Ladin, and relies on multiple couriers and not just one, unlike the al-Qaida founder, say US intelligence sources. He also switches cars during trips, a lesson learnt from the 2011 drone strike that killed Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaida figure in Yemen. Baghdadi has not publicly appointed a successor, but Iyad al-Obaidi, also known as Fadel Haifa, a security officer under former dictator Saddam Hussein, is known to be the de facto deputy, according to Iraqi intelligence sources. More than 40 leading members of the group have been killed in coalition air strikes, but the insurgency is likely to continue even if Mosul is captured and Baghdadi and his aides are killed, according to Iraqi security experts. "There will be other commanders rising because the structure of the organisation remains," said Fadhil Abu Ragheef, an Iraqi security expert specialized in IS affairs. (Reuters)

Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has abandoned Mosul: US intelligence

The&nbsp;Iraqi television channel al-sumaria said on Wednesday that according to &#39;local sources&#39;, the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi acknowledged defeat in Iraq. In the same message, the self-proclaimed caliph is said to have urged his men either to flee or to detonate themselves.&nbsp;

The news was picked up by the Press Trust of India and hence by several other major Indian media outlets without even raising a single shred of doubt&nbsp;on the authenticity of such a&nbsp;message sent by the IS chief. &nbsp;

According to an article published on the Saudi-owned channel al-Arabiya, the message recorded by al-Baghdadi was distributed among Islamic State preachers on Tuesday. &nbsp;

The main problem is that the original copy is not available anywhere&nbsp;and it is therefore impossible to independently verify it. Relying only on local undisclosed sources for a message of such importance is not enough. &nbsp;

It is necessary to conduct accurate analysis on the recorded voice and the related metadata before deciding that the message is definitely authentic. &nbsp;

In case the &#39;local sources&#39; story turns&nbsp;out to be correct, this would be the first time that the Islamic State, through&nbsp;the voice of its leader has&nbsp;admitted&nbsp;defeat.&nbsp;The authenticity of the message is clearly doubtful. If even part of the remaining terrorists succeed in merging with the local population fleeing the city, they will represent a huge&nbsp;danger to&nbsp;Iraq. &nbsp;

Finding explosive and weapons is unfortunately very easy in the country and it takes only a small terrorist cell <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/51-dead-in-third-car-bomb-attack-in-baghdad-in-3-days-12487">to plot a massacre</a>, as recently&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-car-bomb-attack-in-baghdad-10959">seen in the capital city of Baghdad</a>. &nbsp;

It is plausible that the Islamic State leader, whose whereabouts are presently unknown, has strategically ordered the fighters to try to flee and hide. &nbsp;

The organisation is evidently on its way to being militarily defeated in Mosul. Terrorists are now isolated in the western part of the city without any possibility to escape and the Iraqi army is advancing each day. It could take three more months, but it is undoubtedly the beginning of the end of the IS control over Mosul.&nbsp;

In this context it is in the obvious strategical interest of the organisation to preserve its fighters in order to reorganise later, to form new cells in other cities and prepare new attacks. &nbsp;

In the last few days, the Iraqi Army has publicly declared that Islamic State fighters <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/as-civilians-flee-mosul-a-delicate-search-for-jihadists-12931">are hiding among refugees</a> fleeing from the war-torn neighbourhoods of Mosul.&nbsp;

From a strategic point of view, it is unlikely that al-Baghdadi decided to order retreat on a large scale and in a public way, releasing a message which could have ended up in enemies&#39; hands and used against them. &nbsp;

It would have been pointless&nbsp;for al-Baghdadi to publicly admit defeat without negotiating a retreat or a safe zone for his fighters. The risk would be that all remaining troops could disorderly desert and run away, loosing the city in a few days and undermining the organisation&#39;s reputation even further.&nbsp;

Many IS fighters perceive death in battle as a glorious martyrdom in the war to defend Islam. Therefore, it is also very unusual that an organisation like the Islamic state admits defeat among its members. The military concept &#39;defeat&#39; is not part of their political lexicon, at least not when they speak about themselves. &nbsp;

The IS strategy is to fight until the very end, whatever the cost. The Iraqi army, supported by US-led coalition, entered Mosul on the first days of November 2016. Since then, airstrikes and thousands of ground troops have had&nbsp;significant success, but the Islamic State has been fighting back. The IS have also stepped up guerrilla operations and suicide attacks against regular troops. &nbsp;

Losing ground in Mosul is certainly not good news for the Islamic state. Territory is important for the IS reputation: it supports their narrative of being truly capable of building a real caliphate. &nbsp;

The Islamic State did not proliferate only because of its territorial conquest alone,&nbsp;it thrived and spread mainly due to its<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-intimate-invitation-deciphering-the-ideological-appeal-of-the-islamic-state-12128">&nbsp;ideological and theological doctrine.</a> &nbsp;

(WION) 
&nbsp;

The IS' leader's statement comes from undisclosed 'local sources' from an Iraqi TV channel and it raises many doubts

The Iraqi television channel al-sumaria said on Wednesday that according to 'local sources', the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi acknowledged defeat in Iraq. In the same message, the self-proclaimed caliph is said to have urged his men either to flee or to detonate themselves. The news was picked up by the Press Trust of India and hence by several other major Indian media outlets without even raising a single shred of doubt on the authenticity of such a message sent by the IS chief. According to an article published on the Saudi-owned channel al-Arabiya, the message recorded by al-Baghdadi was distributed among Islamic State preachers on Tuesday. The main problem is that the original copy is not available anywhere and it is therefore impossible to independently verify it. Relying only on local undisclosed sources for a message of such importance is not enough. It is necessary to conduct accurate analysis on the recorded voice and the related metadata before deciding that the message is definitely authentic. In case the 'local sources' story turns out to be correct, this would be the first time that the Islamic State, through the voice of its leader has admitted defeat. The authenticity of the message is clearly doubtful. If even part of the remaining terrorists succeed in merging with the local population fleeing the city, they will represent a huge danger to Iraq. Finding explosive and weapons is unfortunately very easy in the country and it takes only a small terrorist cell to plot a massacre, as recently seen in the capital city of Baghdad. It is plausible that the Islamic State leader, whose whereabouts are presently unknown, has strategically ordered the fighters to try to flee and hide. The organisation is evidently on its way to being militarily defeated in Mosul. Terrorists are now isolated in the western part of the city without any possibility to escape and the Iraqi army is advancing each day. It could take three more months, but it is undoubtedly the beginning of the end of the IS control over Mosul. In this context it is in the obvious strategical interest of the organisation to preserve its fighters in order to reorganise later, to form new cells in other cities and prepare new attacks. In the last few days, the Iraqi Army has publicly declared that Islamic State fighters are hiding among refugees fleeing from the war-torn neighbourhoods of Mosul. From a strategic point of view, it is unlikely that al-Baghdadi decided to order retreat on a large scale and in a public way, releasing a message which could have ended up in enemies' hands and used against them. It would have been pointless for al-Baghdadi to publicly admit defeat without negotiating a retreat or a safe zone for his fighters. The risk would be that all remaining troops could disorderly desert and run away, loosing the city in a few days and undermining the organisation's reputation even further. Many IS fighters perceive death in battle as a glorious martyrdom in the war to defend Islam. Therefore, it is also very unusual that an organisation like the Islamic state admits defeat among its members. The military concept 'defeat' is not part of their political lexicon, at least not when they speak about themselves. The IS strategy is to fight until the very end, whatever the cost. The Iraqi army, supported by US-led coalition, entered Mosul on the first days of November 2016. Since then, airstrikes and thousands of ground troops have had significant success, but the Islamic State has been fighting back. The IS have also stepped up guerrilla operations and suicide attacks against regular troops. Losing ground in Mosul is certainly not good news for the Islamic state. Territory is important for the IS reputation: it supports their narrative of being truly capable of building a real caliphate. The Islamic State did not proliferate only because of its territorial conquest alone, it thrived and spread mainly due to its ideological and theological doctrine. (WION)

Report on IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi admitting defeat in Iraq may not be true

The Iraqi air force has targeted a meeting of commanders from the Islamic State group that its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may have been attending, a statement said on Monday.

It was not clear in the statement sent by the Joint Operations Command coordinating the fight against the jihadists in Iraq whether the world&#39;s most wanted terrorist had been hit.

An intelligence cell monitored a convoy that the statement said transported Baghdadi from the area of Raqa, the jihadists&#39;&nbsp;main Syrian stronghold, across the border to the Al-Qaim area in western Iraq.

The statement said Iraqi air force F-16 jets struck a meeting of top IS commanders on February 11 but provided no additional information on Baghdadi&#39;s fate.

&quot;The direct strike on the meeting location led to the death of 13 Daesh (IS) commanders,&quot; said the statement, which provided a list of names.

The Iraq-born Baghdadi, who proclaimed a &quot;caliphate&quot; straddling Iraq and Syria in June 2014, was not one of those names.

The Iraqi military has reported Baghdadi killed or wounded on numerous occasions since it launched a counter-offensive to regain the territory lost to IS almost three years ago.

Iraq&#39;s military said dozens of other IS militants were also killed in other strikes in the same area as part of the operation last week.

Baghdadi&#39;s health is unknown, but the Pentagon said six weeks ago that he was still alive and leading IS as it tries to defend the remnants of its crumbling &quot;caliphate&quot;.

In the statement issued on Monday, the Iraqi military claimed that Baghdadi had come to the border area to discuss with his commanders &quot;the setbacks taking place in Mosul&quot;.

Mosul is Iraq&#39;s second city and the largest ever held by IS.

After a string of major losses in both Iraq and Syria, the jihadists` two main strongholds of Mosul and Raqa are both under attack from forces backed by a US-led coalition.

Iraqi forces have already retaken the eastern side of Mosul and, nearly four months into a massive offensive to recapture the city, they are now readying for an assault on the west side.

In mid-December, the United States more than doubled the bounty on the shadowy IS leader&#39;s head to $25 million.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

It was not clear in the statement sent by Joint Operations Command whether the world's most wanted terrorist had been hit

The Iraqi air force has targeted a meeting of commanders from the Islamic State group that its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may have been attending, a statement said on Monday. It was not clear in the statement sent by the Joint Operations Command coordinating the fight against the jihadists in Iraq whether the world's most wanted terrorist had been hit. An intelligence cell monitored a convoy that the statement said transported Baghdadi from the area of Raqa, the jihadists' main Syrian stronghold, across the border to the Al-Qaim area in western Iraq. The statement said Iraqi air force F-16 jets struck a meeting of top IS commanders on February 11 but provided no additional information on Baghdadi's fate. "The direct strike on the meeting location led to the death of 13 Daesh (IS) commanders," said the statement, which provided a list of names. The Iraq-born Baghdadi, who proclaimed a "caliphate" straddling Iraq and Syria in June 2014, was not one of those names. The Iraqi military has reported Baghdadi killed or wounded on numerous occasions since it launched a counter-offensive to regain the territory lost to IS almost three years ago. Iraq's military said dozens of other IS militants were also killed in other strikes in the same area as part of the operation last week. Baghdadi's health is unknown, but the Pentagon said six weeks ago that he was still alive and leading IS as it tries to defend the remnants of its crumbling "caliphate". In the statement issued on Monday, the Iraqi military claimed that Baghdadi had come to the border area to discuss with his commanders "the setbacks taking place in Mosul". Mosul is Iraq's second city and the largest ever held by IS. After a string of major losses in both Iraq and Syria, the jihadists` two main strongholds of Mosul and Raqa are both under attack from forces backed by a US-led coalition. Iraqi forces have already retaken the eastern side of Mosul and, nearly four months into a massive offensive to recapture the city, they are now readying for an assault on the west side. In mid-December, the United States more than doubled the bounty on the shadowy IS leader's head to $25 million. (AFP)

Baghdadi's fate uncertain as Iraqi air force strikes IS commanders

The Pentagon said on Friday it believes that Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is indeed alive, despite repeated efforts by the US-led coalition to take out the jihadist group leader.

Baghdadi has kept a low profile, despite having declared himself the leader of a renewed Muslim caliphate, but last month released a defiant audio message urging his supporters to defend the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

It is not clear if he is in the besieged city, where he declared his caliphate in 2014 after the IS group seized territory covering much of eastern Syria and northern Iraq.

&quot;We do think Baghdadi is alive and is still leading ISIL and we are obviously doing everything we can to track his movements,&quot; Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told CNN.

&quot;If we get the opportunity, we certainly would take advantage of any opportunity to deliver him the justice he deserves,&quot; he said.

&quot;We&#39;re doing everything we can. This is something we&#39;re spending a lot of time on.&quot;

In mid-December, the United States more than doubled the bounty on the shadowy IS leader&#39;s head to $25 million.

The group has only released one video of Baghdadi, showing a man with a black and grey beard wearing a black robe and matching turban, dating back to 2014.

Cook suggested that Baghdadi is isolated because coalition raids have killed many IS leaders.

&quot;He&#39;s having a hard time finding advisers and confidants to speak with because a lot of them are no longer with us,&quot; the spokesman said.

According to an official Iraqi government document, Baghdadi was born in Samarra in 1971. He apparently joined the insurgency that erupted after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and spent time in an American military prison.

(AFP)

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi last month released an audio message urging his supporters to defend the Iraqi city of Mosul

The Pentagon said on Friday it believes that Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is indeed alive, despite repeated efforts by the US-led coalition to take out the jihadist group leader. Baghdadi has kept a low profile, despite having declared himself the leader of a renewed Muslim caliphate, but last month released a defiant audio message urging his supporters to defend the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. It is not clear if he is in the besieged city, where he declared his caliphate in 2014 after the IS group seized territory covering much of eastern Syria and northern Iraq. "We do think Baghdadi is alive and is still leading ISIL and we are obviously doing everything we can to track his movements," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told CNN. "If we get the opportunity, we certainly would take advantage of any opportunity to deliver him the justice he deserves," he said. "We're doing everything we can. This is something we're spending a lot of time on." In mid-December, the United States more than doubled the bounty on the shadowy IS leader's head to $25 million. The group has only released one video of Baghdadi, showing a man with a black and grey beard wearing a black robe and matching turban, dating back to 2014. Cook suggested that Baghdadi is isolated because coalition raids have killed many IS leaders. "He's having a hard time finding advisers and confidants to speak with because a lot of them are no longer with us," the spokesman said. According to an official Iraqi government document, Baghdadi was born in Samarra in 1971. He apparently joined the insurgency that erupted after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and spent time in an American military prison. (AFP)

Islamic State leader alive, still leading: US

With Iraqi forces poised to enter the city of Mosul, the Islamic State&#39;s last bastion in Iraq, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on jihadists in the city to fight to the end in what is said to be his first message this year, reported AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;Do not retreat,&quot; he said in an audio recording that was released on the Internet yesterday. &quot;Holding your ground with honour is a thousand times easier than retreating in shame.&quot;

Iraqi forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, had launched a massive offensive to reclaim the city on October 17.

The recording, entitled &quot;This is what God and his messenger have promised us&quot; has not yet been authenticated but leading experts on the terror organisation said they did not doubt its veracity.&nbsp;

In his latest message, Baghdadi called for attacks in Saudi Arabia and Turkey and told his followers to aim for Libya while urging his fighters to stay united in adversity.&nbsp;

Self-declared caliph Baghdadi announced the creation of Islamic State in large swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014. But lately, his forces have lost a major chunk of their territory, including Fallujah in Iraq and Dabiq in Syria to Iraqi forces.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

Iraqi forces are poised to enter the city, the last Islamic State bastion in Iraq

With Iraqi forces poised to enter the city of Mosul, the Islamic State's last bastion in Iraq, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on jihadists in the city to fight to the end in what is said to be his first message this year, reported AFP. "Do not retreat," he said in an audio recording that was released on the Internet yesterday. "Holding your ground with honour is a thousand times easier than retreating in shame." Iraqi forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, had launched a massive offensive to reclaim the city on October 17. The recording, entitled "This is what God and his messenger have promised us" has not yet been authenticated but leading experts on the terror organisation said they did not doubt its veracity. In his latest message, Baghdadi called for attacks in Saudi Arabia and Turkey and told his followers to aim for Libya while urging his fighters to stay united in adversity. Self-declared caliph Baghdadi announced the creation of Islamic State in large swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014. But lately, his forces have lost a major chunk of their territory, including Fallujah in Iraq and Dabiq in Syria to Iraqi forces. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Fight to the end, IS boss Baghdadi urges Mosul jihadists